John Varvatos Vintage

Updated classics are all the rage these days. Building off nostalgia and/or quality, it’s a strategy often used to target the male demographic, in every market from automotive to cologne. On t he wings of this vintage craze, the newly reinterpreted version of the signature John Varvatos cologne Vintage has hit the shelves. This updated spin offers a more complex, engaging bouquet thanks to a fresh infusion of spices: cinnamon, jasmine and Turkish tobacco, just to name a few. Vintage, which was conceived by Mr. Varvatos himself, evokes the contemporary essence of the Varvatos brand; it’s masculine and intense, yet sophisticated and smooth.

From the package alone, you can sense that Vintage has a truly distinguished allure. The dark amber bottle ensconced by the leather-like label automatically looks highly exclusive. (But hey, John Varvatos is a designer by trade, so it might be disconcerting if the “look” was less than stellar.) Then, once you get to the real product, you’ll soon realize that Vintage does have an individual bouquet all its own. While the background essences are standard fare, the top notes and subtle spice-infusions lend a remarkable singularity to the overall fragrance. The mixture, which is a special edition, has an overt complexity that works in all the right ways: disparate aromas like silver absinthe, juniper berries, cubeb peppers, tonka beans, and rhubarb combine in an impressive range of notes. Their overall effect works nicely too. Vintage possesses its own unique authenticity, both for its classical appeal and for its forward-thinking redesign.

Guys who wear cologne traditionally find one fragrance and stick with it -- for years. That’s why some colognes have supreme longevity and some fade away, and it’s not yet clear which side of the tipping point Vintage will end up on. The cologne does stand out from the crowd, thanks to the spicy notes that have been used to invigorate the classic formula. What’s more, it also enjoys enduring appeal with the inclusion of woody fragrances like oakmoss, suede, fir balsam, and ashwood. Comprehensively, Vintage has a decidedly masculine scent that’s more uptown than outdoors, and many guys will appreciate this fine line that Vintage allows them to walk. (That’s a huge plus that gets placed in the pros column, for sure.) However, the one consideration is the “limited edition” designation since 2006; the product is still on the market, and that’s due to either supply or demand.